St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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RN AGES long past, In the deep forest vast, By the banks of a stream XVhich doth silvery gleam In the bright sunlight 5 Where dwelt the warrior brave lVho ne'er could be a slave,-- Here grew the council tree 3 Here the great Chieftains three, Greatest of Mohicans, Came with their trusty bands To the great council. Then in the misty light Of the bright orb of night, . Up rose the Chieftains tall And on the spirit call, Spirit of the poplar. O, spirit of the tree, - Answer our prayer to thee l Shall we have victory Over our enemy ? 0, spirit of the tree, Answer' our inquiry. List, through rustling leaves, List, how the spirit breathes, And in a mystic tune Doth now the answer croon : Victory shall be with thee, And with thine victory 3 Many moons shall pass away, Still shall the red man's sway, Over the happy lands Where dwell the Mohicans the 1696115 of U96 IDODIHIX Be undisputed. Lo, from the eastern lands Advance the mighty bands g Now from the rising sun See a strange people come Pale as the snow drops. See how their great canoe Plowing the waters through Come, borne on wings of white Like the great wild swans' flight, Swift to the northward. When from the eastern sea Strange people come to thee, Then shall the Delaware Out from his woodland lair Flee from the stranger. Swifter than whistling blast, Fear in his heart atilast, Over the glistening snow, See now the warriors go Far to the westward ! Never again shall they Hear the sweet melody Of the gray mocking-bird, That they all once have heard In months of Summer. Never more shall they see Forest or council tree : Far from their Woodland home Shall the Mohicans roam Lost, lost, forever! Still shall the poplar stand, Noblest in all the land g Old, majestic, and hoary Shall it stand in glory Unto the end. Sad were the chieftains brave, Sad their aspect and grave 3 Mornfully they led Down to the water's edge Their bands to the village. Ye sons of old St. John's, If you would try the charms, Wait for the silver moon In balmy nights of June g Then at the midnight hour, Try, try the spirit's power, Spirit of the poplar 2 And in the misty light Of the bright orb of night, Invoke the spirit. O, spirit of the tree, Shall St. john's College be Glorious eternally? Say, spirit of the tree, Spirit of the poplar. Then shall the spirit say In a soft mystic lay z Glory shall ever be Old St. Johnis to thee 3 Ever shall thy dear sons' fame Bring glory to thy name, And years fast rolling round Shall give thee high renown! D

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HDDZIYODDC to IDC IDODIHF. ? JHOU gia11t tree, whose hollow trunk, to foul f' Decay a prey, now stands an empty shell, A mere suggestion of thy former might,- Yet even now, when time's fierce tempests have In vain their force expended round thy head, Still standest thou, a mighty sentinel, Our pride, our boast, our college friend. Oh, could some mighty hand, Endowed with power divine, give utterance Unto thy being, then while zephyrs mild Among thy branches played, could'st thou regale The listening ear with many a tale of long- Forgotten lore 3 and scenes which live and move In history alone could'st thou relate With that fresh spark of life which animates Recitals of experience. Yea, i11 words Of living truth might'st thou describe how once The dusky native of our fatherland A Did underneath thy spreading branches meet, And with his pale-faced brother form A truce of lasting friendship g then could'st thou Of wars and conflicts tell, in contrast great To this serener picture g then, perchance, In accents mild, and in a manner sweet I And soothing to the care-beladen soul, Thy memory wou1d'st portray a lowly scene, Of men, who, drawn by thy protecting shade, And seeing in thy verdant foliage And stalwart trunk the great Creator's hand, Have dressed in deep humiliation's garb, And meekly bowed before Almighty God, And worshiped g then, indeed, could'st thou depict The progress of the ages, and enlarge The growing page of history. But, alas! 'Tis not thy mission thus to speak, and teach Men useful knowledge, thy domain is but To live, and in thy living make one mute, Though lingering appeal, that men may look Upon thy peaceful form, and see therein The lessons God has taught them. Mutely thus Thou speakest : Sons of men, behold, I stand, As I have done for ages. Years ago The bloom of life had faded from these boughs, And rottenness had seized this sturdy trunk Q But then, in this mine hour of darkest gloom, Some urchins, mischievously bent, ignite This frame with powder, and the hungry flames